Holder for art object

ABSTRACT

A holder for an art object is provided including a stand with an arcuate member on the top thereof with a cupped holder downwardly extending from the top of the arcuate member and an adjustable bottom holder extending upwardly from the stand. The bottom holder is spring mounted and tension on the spring can be adjusted by means of an adjusting stud so that objects of various sizes and weights can be easily supported.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Joan P. Gardner 2637 Buchanan St., San Francisco, Calif. 94115 [21] AppL No. 822,464 [22] Filed May 7, 1969 [45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 [54] HOLDER FOR ART OBJECT 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 248/125,

211/14;248/316, 248/402 [51] Int. Cl A471 5/00 [50] Field ofSearch... 248/121, 125, 401,402, 403, 316, 316.2; 21 H14 [56] References Cited UN lTED STATES PATENTS 225,530 3/1880 McGlinchy 211/14 298,233 5/1884 Richards 248/125 Johnson Kessel Caramelli 12/1955 Jurinie 10/1967 Thorman FOREIGN PATENTS 6/1955 Austria Primary Examiner- Marion Parsons, Jr. Attorney-Eckhoff and Hoppe ABSTRACT: A holder for an art object is provided including a stand with an arcuate member on the top thereof with a cupped holderldownwardly extending from the top of the arcuate member and an adjustable bottom holder extending upwardly from the stand. The bottom holder is spring mounted and tension on the spring can be adjusted by means of an adjusting stud so that objects of various sizes and we easily supported.

ights can be INVENTOR.

' JOAN P7 GARDNER 1:- BY

HOLDER FOR ART OBJECT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Holders for art objects have been known before but ordinarily they have been fairly cumbersome devicesemploying screw operated means for clamping the art object. The adjusting screws are visible, detracting from the aesthetic qualities of the device and also there is the danger that if the screws are adjusted too tightly. the object might be injured or if the screws are adjusted too loosely the object might fall out. Vibration can loosen the screws.

In accordance with the present invention, a holder for art objects is provided wherein the lower holder telescopes within an upright member so that the holding mechanism is concealed. This increases the aesthetic appeal of the device.

Another feature of the invention is that the lower holder is spring mounted so that in order to mount an art object, it is not ordinarily necessary to adjust any screws but merely to pull the lower holder down, place the art object between two holders and release the lower holder. This results in a gentle but firm gripping action of the art object.

Further, in accordance with the present invention an adjusting stud is provided so that the tension on the spring can be regulated. Thus, the device of the present invention can be used on a large range of sizes of art objects merely by adjusting the stud and thus putting more or less tension on the spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder embodying the present invention showing art objects in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section through the base and a portion of the upright.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The holder of the present invention includes a base 4 which is preferably of circular form. Attached to the base by welding or other suitable means is a hollow upright 6. Attached to the top of the upright is an arcuate member generally designated 8. The arcuate member 8 is of generally oval shape with the long axis of the oval in a vertical plane. Member 8 has a top 10 and a bottom 12. The arcuate member 8 encompasses a little more than one half of an oval, i.e. it is slightly over 180 in extent.

Fastened to the arcuate member near its top is a downwardly extending top holder 14 having a cupped bottom end 16.

Near the bottom 12 of the arcuate member 8 the member is attached to the upright 6 as shown. A sliding bottom holder l8 passes through the arcuate member and into the hollow member 6. The bottom holder 18 has a cup-shaped top 20. The bottom end of 18 is flared as at 22, to keep the member from being pulled out of the end of the arcuate member, to prevent it from wobbling, and to provide a broad base for spring 24.

A spring 24 is provided which contacts the flared bottom end 22 of the holder 18. At the bottom of the spring an adjusting stud 26 is provided mounted on threads 28 within the hollow member. It is obvious that by turning the stud 26, the tension on the spring can be adjusted so that the member 18 can be moved upwardly or downwardly depending upon the size of the object to be supported. Two alternate positions are shown at 20A and 208.

In use, it is only necessary to make a rough adjustment of the stud 26 so that the holder 18 rises to a point where the cup 20 is spaced from the cup 16 by an amount slightly less than the size of the object to be supported. Then an art object, such as the shell shown in dot-dash lines at 30, is placed between the two cups and the lower cup released. The art object is now firmly but gently grasped as is shown in FIG. 1, making an attractive display.

I claim:

1. A holder for an art object of the like comprising in combination:

a. a base;

b. a hollow upright attached to said base at its bottom end;

c. a single arcuate member attached to the top of the upright;

d. said arcuate member being of generally oval shape and having its longer axis in a vertical plane, said arcuate member extending slightly over e. said arcuate member having a bottom end and a top end with the point of attachment of the said member being near its bottom end;

f. the top end of said arcuate member lying directly over the bottom end thereof;

g. a top holder extending downward from the top of the ar cuate member and having a tubular member with a cupped, downwardly extending terminal end;

h. a bottom holder extending through the arcuate member and into said hollow upright and being slideably;

i. a spring mounted within the hollow upright and urging the bottom holder upwardly;

j. an adjusting stud threadably mounted within the hollow member and supporting said spring whereby said stud can be turned to alter the tension on said spring; and

k. said adjusting stud being concealed by said base. 

1. A holder for an art object of the like comprising in combination: a. a base; b. a hollow upright attached to said base at its bottom end; c. a single arcuate member attached to the top of the upright; d. said arcuate member being of generally oval shape and having its longer axis in a vertical plane, said arcuate member extending slightly over 180*; e. said arcuate member having a bottom end and a top end with the point of attachment of the said member being near its bottom end; f. the top end of said arcuate member lying directly over the bottom end thereof; g. a top holder extending downward from the top of the arcuate member and having a tubular member with a cupped, downwardly extending terminal end; h. a bottom holder extending through the arcuate member and into said hollow upright and being slideably; i. a spring mounted within the hollow upright and urging the bottom holder upwardly; j. an adjusting stud threadably mounted within the hollow member and supporting said spring whereby said stud can be turned to alter the tension on said spring; and k. said adjusting stud being concealed by said base. 